The Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has accused the state administration under President’s Rule (PR) of failing to execute key rural infrastructure projects despite the Centre sanctioning substantial funds for their implementation.Addressing mediapersons at Congress Bhawan in Imphal on Monday, MPCC president K. Meghachandra claimed that the President’s Rule government has failed to execute the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) Phase-III work sanctioned for improving rural connectivity across the state.
“The Central Government had approved Rs 404 crore and Rs 205 crore in 2019 for the construction and upgrade of 1.25 lakh kilometres of rural roads under Phase-III of PMGSY. However, the project is yet to be implemented, leaving road infrastructure across Manipur in a pathetic condition.”, he said.The Congress leader further pointed out that the tendering process, which began way back in 2024, has not been completed. “Tenders for the project have been floated and cancelled two or three times, raising suspicions of manipulation,” he said.He also stated that the guidelines framed for the tendering process make it extremely difficult for local contractors to participate. “It seems that officials and ministers are attempting to award the works to favoured contractors or companies, which has primarily led to repeated delays,” he alleged.Questioning the functioning of the administration and the concerned department, the MPCC president said that the ongoing protests across various parts of the state over deteriorating road conditions bore testimony to the public grievances over non implementation of the rural road projects.“Instead of looting public money, the government should prioritise people’s grievances and expedite the execution of rural road projects,” Meghachandra said.
He also pointed out that information obtained from the relevant Ministry has revealed that the PMGSY Phase-III works need to be tendered and executed before March 31, 2026, failing which the sanctioned funds might lapse.He therefore urged the President’s Rule administration to take immediate corrective action to ensure Manipur does not lose the financial benefits meant for improving the state’s rural infrastructure.
